For decades, Washington was overwhelmingly a football city. The nation's capital's NFL franchise boasted three Super Bowl wins and countless iconic traditions, and its popularity dwarfed that of any other professional club in town. But in the past 20 years, the team's on-field struggles and off-field organizational incompetence have tainted what was once one of pro football's proudest brands.
In the meantime, the NHL's Washington Capitals became the gold standard among their regional peers. Superstar Alex Ovechkin has been the face of D.C. sports since the mid-2000s, with the Caps winning the Stanley Cup in 2018 and seldom ever missing the playoffs throughout his legendary career.
Rumors have been swirling all season that Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leading goal-scorer, may retire at its conclusion. With the NBA's Wizards and MLB's Nationals both in the basement, it's up to the Commanders to reclaim the city they once owned.
The Commanders have the brightest future in D.C. right now, and they can't screw it up
Despite winning only five games a season ago, the Commanders should be in prime position to compete for a playoff spot in 2026 after Adam Peters repaired many of his roster's issues in free agency. Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan argues that out of all four major pro teams in Washington, it's the gridiron squad that gives fans their most reasons for hope at the moment.
"The Commanders had a very good offseason... they dramatically improved their defense, got younger and faster, have their quarterback of the future, have an ownership group that's doing a good job. They have the structure for the first time in my life that I've always wanted."Grant Paulsen
The outlook for D.C. sports is looking up despite the lack of recent results. Which team has the most positive outlook for the future? pic.twitter.com/7JeOgOWmeM
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) April 9, 2026
Really, the Commanders are the answer here by process of elimination. The Nationals will be "rebuilding" for as long as their ownership refuses to ever pay up for the players they develop. The Wizards have an intriguing young group, with a top-five pick soon to be added to it in this June's NBA Draft, but their acquisitions of empty stats king Trae Young and oft-injured Anthony Davis seem bound to backfire.
Of course, it could very well still be the Capitals. They'll still have their rugged enforcer Tom Wilson, and their young nucleus of Ryan Leonard, Connor McMichael, Alexei and Ilya Protas, and Cole Hutson should have them playing competitive hockey even in a post-Ovechkin world. They are always well-managed, and that's key.
But at the end of the day, it seems too obvious to say that the D.C. team in the best place right now is the one that was within one game of reaching the biggest stage only 15 months ago. The 2024 Commanders were massively ahead of schedule, but if they — particularly Jayden Daniels — can stay healthy, seasons like that one should soon become the new normal.
The 2026 season will tell us everything about who the Commanders really are. And the entire city is depending on their success.